04/23/1997 01:10 PM House TRA

 HB 246 - GEORGE W. PALMER MEMORIAL BRIDGE                                   
                                                                               
 Number 056                                                                    
 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS announced that the committee would hear HB 246,             
 "An Act naming the George W. Palmer Memorial Bridge."                         
                                                                               
 Number 104                                                                    
                                                                               
 SANDRA YOCOM, Researcher to Representative Scott Ogan, stated that            
 there is a new bridge construction occurring across the Matanuska             
 River, outside of Palmer.  Justin Kaucic, with Boy Scott Troop 325,           
 of Palmer is spearheading the effort to name the bridge the George            
 W. Palmer Memorial Bridge.  She stated that the city of Palmer and            
 the Matanuska-Susitna Borough are in favor of this naming of the              
 bridge.  She stated that George W. Palmer arrived in Alaska in                
 1875, operating a trading post on the Matanuska River Bridge.  She            
 stated that he used tin-lined boxes to protect the supplies from              
 bugs and weather along the river.  He is remembered as a                      
 resourceful and industrious Alaskan pioneer.  He died in 1935 and             
 in 1951 when the city incorporated, it chose the name of Palmer to            
 reflect his independence and industriousness.  The Matanuska-                 
 Susitna Valley government and residents seek to extend this                   
 remembrance to include the new bridge being built near his old                
 trading post site.                                                            
                                                                               
 Number 348                                                                    
                                                                               
 BARBARA LACHER, Mayor, City of Matanuska, testified via                       
 teleconference from Palmer, that the Matanuska Borough is                     
 unanimously in support of naming the bridge, the George W. Palmer             
 Memorial Bridge.                                                              
                                                                               
 Number 495                                                                    
                                                                               
 JUSTIN KAUCIC, testified via teleconference from Matsu, that the              
 George W. Palmer Memorial Bridge is a very good name for this                 
 bridge.                                                                       
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked how old he is and how he came up with the             
 name.                                                                         
                                                                               
 MR. KAUCIC replied that he is eleven years old and he came up with            
 the name because George W. Palmer operated the trading post where             
 the bridge site is.                                                           
                                                                               
 Number 542                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY MASEK thanked Mr. Kaucic for all his effort            
 and involvement.                                                              
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON thanked Mr. Kaucic and stated that he              
 appreciated young people taking on civic responsibilities.                    
                                                                               
 Number 644                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHUCK KAUCIC, testified via teleconferce from Matsu, that this is             
 a wonderful opportunity to interpret Alaskan history.                         
                                                                               
 Number 728                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE MASEK made a motion to move HB 246, with individual            
 recommendations and attached zero fiscal note.                                
                                                                               
 Number 761                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there were any objections, hearing none            
 HB 246 was moved out of the House Transportation Standing                     
 Committee.